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(NoMoael.) 3 sheets-sheen 1.

F. C. COOPER. 'METHOD 0F DELINTING COTTON SEED.

No. 389,739. 5 Patented sept. 18,'1888.v

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i444 G .Inven'olf v I /l/JM/ `A Jua-M7 ,.P. (LCOOPBR.V METHOD OP DELINTING COTTON SEED.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 389,739. Patented Sept. 18, 1.888.

(No MOdeL)V F. o. QOOPER. l VMETHD OFVDELINTING COTTON SEED. No. 889,789.

Patented sept. 18, 1888.

uw mu I 111% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRFD To. COOPER, vOF ROME, GEORGIA- METHOD QF DELINTING COTTON-SEED'.

SPECIFICATION forming parier Letters Patent NQ. 389,739, dated september 1a,` Isae.

Application filed October 7, 1885.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that `I,l FRED C. COOPER, a citi- -zen of the United States, residing at Romein the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Methods of Delinting Cotton-Seed, of which the following is aspeeification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. l.

Sulphuricacid has been heretofore generally used for removing the-fiber or lint from cottonseed. This powerful reagent is apt' to injure the seed by destroying itsgerminating property, and after subjecting the seed to this acid it requires to besubjected to the action of an alkaline solutionto neutralize the acid, and subsequently to a watcr-bath to removel the salts.

The object of this invention isto avoid in- 4 jury of the seed and simplify the process by dispensing with the alkaline and water baths'. The process consists, principally, in moistening the seed with a dilute rsolution of nitric and hydrochloric acids, which is inactive upon the seed without the application of heat, and then subjecting the so-moistened seed to a temperature of 100 centigrade, or thereabout, whereby aqua regia is formed and nascent chlorine liberated in direct contact with the fiber or lint of the seed, as hereinafter set forth. One method of carrying out my process is to mix nitric acid with hydrochloric acid in the proportions of about one part ofthe former to (ive of the latter, preferably using an excess of hydrochloric acid over the theoretical combining proportions, it being supposed that this acid is in part vaporized by the heat. To

six parts of the mixture thus formed are added about ninety-four partsof water. The seed having the liber or lint is then immersed in this solution, or the solution may bevpassed through or filtered .upon such linted seed.

remains inactive.

Owingto the large quantity ot' -Water present the solution with whichthe seed is moistened The so-m'oistened seed is then subjected to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water, and the` acids then unite and form aqua regia, or nitro-hydrochloric v acid, liberating chlorine in direct contact with the ber or lint of the seed. The chlorine thus liberated disintegrates the fiber-"without 'injuring the seed. Before the seed' moistened lparatus shown in Fig. 3..

sentirlo. 119.248.' (No model.)

I by the dilute solution enters the heated chambefore, owing to the great amount of Water (H2O, and Aq.) the acids cannot enter into combination. On the introduction of the element heat into the equation the obstacle is eliminated and the elements unite, the superuous waterpassing o' in the form of vapor, and an inert substance (nitrosyl chloride) passing OE as a gas, and that chlorine, not entering into combination with the cellulose of the seed, also passes ofi' as a gas. it will be seen that no acids or salts remain onthe seed to injure the same after the ber is removed. At the same time that the seed are subjected to the action of heat and the acids they are also suba brushing operation which removes jected to the disintegrated ber, or the seed may be subjected to the brushing operation after the chemical operation has been completed.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate a convenient Aapparatus for carrying out this improved process, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the seed-moistening apparatus. Fig.2is an end elevation thereof. Fg.3 is alongitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus in which the moistened seed is subjected to the action of heat and also to the brushing operation; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the ap.-

Similar letters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. l

Y The apparatus will now be described.

The seed to be treated are first placed in a suitable tank, T, Fig. J1 of theannexed drawings. This tank is mounted upon a frame,A, which, when constructed as shownl in the drawings, comprises two longitudinal sills, o, two l top rails, c, a pair of intermediate standards, cross-bars, z.

d, two pairs of end standards, aand b,ad end The intermediate standards, b,

are disposed centrally of the frame and are taller than the end standards. The bottom of this tank forms an obtuse angle after running horizontally about halt. its lcngth,"extending then obliquely to the center supports, b,where it is attached on both sides. In this tank the seed is thoroughly moistened bya dilute solution of nitro -hydrochlorc acid containing lICO about six per cent. of the pure acid in the proportion of one part nitric to five parts hydrochloric. It will be seen that these proportions will make the acid known as aqua regia. After being thoroughly moistened by this solution the seed is placed in a suitable drain ing-vessel. I prefer to use a capillary draining-vessel especially constructed by me for the purpose,which I will hereinafter fully describe. The seed, as stated before, moist with the dilute solution of nitro-hydrochloric acid, is brought, through the aid of a conveyingbelt, E, over a V-shaped capillary drainingvessel. (Marked T'.) This drainer is mounted adjoining the tank T on the frame A,between the side beams, d, and against the center supports, b, in direct connection with the tank T. This part of the apparatus consists of a wooden trough-shaped vessel provided with iron bindings. I prefer to fill the draining-vessel with a suitable porous material-such as asbestos,

charcoal, or like porous substance. At the top of the vessel I place a wire screen, o, resting upon the porous material in an inclined position. From the bottom of the drainer is extended a small iron tube, e, leading to a force-pump, I.

The conveying-belt E, before mentioned, is -provided with wire-rakes 1v, which serve to carry the seed over the inclined wire screen o. This belt is mounted upon large rollersd2 and f, provided with suitable shafting working in journal-boxes n n' m m', attached, respectively, to the standards b and the horizontal beams d.

To one end of the shaft of the roller d2 is attached a pulley, c2, which is connected by a band, c, with a driving pulley, b2, through which motion is transmitted. The roller f has a pulley, n, attached to one end of the shaft, which is in connection by a band, n, with'a large pulley, h: This pulley 7L is provided with the necessary connection to work a forcepump, I, attached to one of the standards b.

The pump I isl provided with a small tube, e, extending from the bottom of the draininglvessel T, and enters at its base. Through this tube e the collected acid is drawn into the pump and forced out through the tubek,which extends beyond the top of the tank T, and ist provided with ,a stop-cock, k', to regulate the iow of acid, which is again used.

The moist seed conveyed by the belt E is made to slowly roll over the inclined screen 0*, and by the time it reaches the lowest point (marked F) is sufficiently drained to enter a brushing and drying apparatus. My process is greatly enhanced by using a brushing and drying apparatus in which the fiber of the seed is disintegrated, where the seed are freed of the reduced ber, and where the same is also dried. I have constructed such an apparatus, consisting of a revolving wire-gauze cylinder inclosed in a suitable cylindrical case, which vis heated to about 100? centigrade. The case is provided with the necessary feed and ex haust devices. In this improved apparatus the seed is simultaneously brushed and dried. The following is a full description ofthe same. The iron case C', mounted in an inclined position upon a suitable stand, is provided at its upper end with a fulcrumed feed-spout, L. This end is also `provided with a bearing, J', bolted to the outside of the disk-shaped end plate of the case, and at the lower end abracket bearing, J, is attached. Extending the vwhole length of the case and projecting beyond the bracket-bearing is a shaft, B', one end of which rests in the bearing J', the other in the bearing J. To this shafting-is attached the wire-gauze cylinder B, which consists of the-iron' end'castings, a2 af, the iron bands a, and the connecting-rods b,which forma frame over which the wire-gauze is stretched and fastened. Ashortdistance from theupper end platea?, the shafting isprovidedinteriorlyof the casing with a cam-wheel, lz, which is attached thereto adjoining the end castings, a', of the revolving cylinderBi. At the lower end the shaft is provided wit-ha driving-pulley, G, attached outside of the bracket-bearing J. A hollow shaft, B, extends from the bracketbearing .T about onefourth of the distance of the main shaft B', and revolves thereon in au opposite direction to that of the main shaft. To this hollow shaft, which is provided with a driving-pulley, G', a Wire brush, B, with the bristles set in a spiral direction, is rigidly attached.

Entering the case C at the upper end, c, just below the fulcrumed feed-spout L, is a heating-pipe, R, haviuga suicient coil inside the casing to give the required heat. This pipe has its exit at the point marked E, -Immediately above the heating-pipe R, I have attached the fulcrumed feed-spout L, the extended portion Z' entering the casing a suitable distance and resting on the caml', which imparts a varying motion to the spout, whereby the seed is fed into the brushing and drying apparatus. The feed-spout is fulcrumed at a point,r,on the exterior of the casing. A large pipe, D,entering the casing at thelower end, is connected with an exhaust-fan,E',which causes a current of air to enter the casing at the opening at the feed and exit spouts, the current escaping through the pipe D. This current carries off all the disintegrated fiber, but does not hinder the seed from being discharged through the spout S. The moist seed enters the brushing apparatus, and, coming in contact with the element heat, aqua regia is formed,.the ber is decomposed, and after being brushed the seed is ready for the market.

Among the advantages of my process the following may be enumerated: first, the use of a much less dangerous solution than has been used heretofore; second, the elimination of the numerous water and alkaline baths; third, no acids or salts left on the seed to contaminate the same; fourth, the time required is very short, as the seed are simply moistened and then subjected to heat, when they are ready for market; fth,th'e apparatus required is simple and inexpensive; sixth, the process is as cheap if not cheaper than lany now employed. i

I claim as my invention-- 1. The process of separating ber from cotton-seed,whieh consists in .moistening the seed with a dilute solution of nitro-hydrochloric acid,and then subjecting the somoistened seed to the action oi' heat, substantially as described.

2. The process of separating ber from cotton-seed,which consists in moistening the seed with a dilute solution of nitrohydrochloric lacid,and then subjecting the so-moistened seed to the action of heat and finally to a brushing operation, substantially as described.

3. The process of vseparating tib'er from cotton-seed, which consists in wetting the seedl with a solution composed of nitric acid,hydro chloric acid, and water, in the proportions of 2o about one part of nitric acid, iive parts of hydroch1oricacid,and ninety-four parts of water, and'then subjecting the so-moistened seed to a temperature of about 100o centigrade.

4. fThe process of separating fiber from cot- 2 5' ton-seed, which consists in wetting the seed with a solution composed of nitric ac1d,hydro -chloric acid, and water, in the proportions of FRED C. COOPER.

Witnesses: -1 i T. W. Seo'r'r, C. O. STILLWIcLL. 

